Oregon Substitute Teacher Day

May 5, 2010                                      

Samuel Drinnon, Oregon Substitute Teacher of the Year 2009

Wednesday, May 5, 2010, is Oregon’s tenth annual Substitute Teacher Appreciation Day proclaimed by the governor—a day when schools are encouraged to do something special for those faithful guest teachers, who provide approximately one year of every student’s education.  Please join Governor Kulongoski in saying thanks to these on-call professionals during National Teacher Appreciation Week, especially on May 5.  Some successful ideas are listed below.

Oregon Substitute Teacher of the Year
Samuel Drinnon the 2009 Oregon Substitute Teacher of the Year, was selected for his exceptional work as a substitute teacher in Woodburn.  He was recognized at the Oregon Legislature on Oregon Substitute Teacher Day May 6.   He is known for his use of humor “without thorns or putdowns.”  He identifies potentially troublesome students and gives them special tasks.  He also selects student assistants who help him to keep the class on task.  Primary students love his polystyrene cup calculators.

Nominate a Substitute Teacher of the Year
Each year we look for another substitute teacher to honor.  We invite you to nominate one or more outstanding substitute teachers for the 2011 Oregon Substitute Teacher of the Year.  Please send your nomination by April 16, 2010 using the form below.

Visit the Website (ostasubs.org)
Surf this website to learn about membership in Oregon’s professional association of substitute teachers.  There are also links to valuable teaching resources and the National Substitute Teacher Alliance (nstasubs.org).  For more information contact Walter Ricks, President, Oregon Substitute Teachers Association frodoricks@embarqmail.com  (541) 994-9776.

Ways to Thank a Substitute Teacher . . .

Here are some quick and easy ideas, but let creativity be your guide!

·         Candy by the substitute check-in, with a small sign: “You are our Life-Saver!”  or “You Deserve a (Peppermint) Patty on the Back!” or just “Thank You for Being our Substitute Teacher.”*

·         Latte Gift Certificates, boutonnieres.

·         A poster in the front lobby welcoming substitutes.   

·         Hand-written notes by leadership students, hand-delivered to classrooms or sent in the mail.

·         An after-school tea inviting substitutes who usually work in your building, but who may not

       have been called to your building that day.

·         Including substitute teachers in Teacher Appreciation Week activities.

·         Including Oregon Substitute Teacher Day in your morning announcements.

·         Announcing names of substitute teachers and for whom they are substituting.

      (Some schools do this on a daily basis, and it is helpful to the teaching teams as well as the   

       students.)

·         Feel free to use the list of substitute teacher traits found below.